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Is transparency an effective anti‐corruption strategy? Evidence from a field experiment in India

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  • Leonid Peisakhin
  • Paul Pinto

Abstract

Can freedom of information laws be harnessed by underprivileged members of society and used to obtain greater access to basic public goods that are otherwise attainable only through bribery? Drawing on a field experiment on access to ration cards among New Delhi's slum dwellers, we demonstrate that India's recently adopted freedom of information law is almost as effective as bribery in helping the poor to secure access to a basic public service. We find support for the theoretical proposition that greater transparency and voice lowers corruption even in highly hierarchical and unequal societies.

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  • Leonid Peisakhin & Paul Pinto, 2010. "Is transparency an effective anti‐corruption strategy? Evidence from a field experiment in India," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 4(3), pages 261-280, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:reggov:v:4:y:2010:i:3:p:261-280
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-5991.2010.01081.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Žuffová, Mária, 2024. "Applying Text-as-data Methods to Information Requests: A Novel Approach to Study Different Political Phenomena," OSF Preprints 8p5e6, Center for Open Science.
    2. Casadesús de Mingo, Anahí & Cerrillo-i-Martínez, Agustí, 2018. "Improving records management to promote transparency and prevent corruption," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 256-261.
    3. Asri, Viola & Michaelowa, Katharina & Panda, Sitakanta & Paul, Sourabh B., 2022. "The pursuit of simplicity: Can simplifying eligibility criteria improve social pension targeting?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 820-846.
    4. Engel, Christoph & Zamir, Eyal, 2024. "Is transparency a blessing or a curse? An experimental horse race between accountability and extortionary corruption," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).

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